Monastery on Nine-day Mountain
The chrysanthemums by the eastern fence are also turning yellow.
Worldly people often indulge in wine.
Who understands and enhances the fragrance of tea?
The fifth Typhoon of the year, Doksuri, has made landfall in Fujian, prompting a red alert from the National Meteorological Center. Meanwhile, Typhoon Khanun, the sixth of the season, is poised and gradually intensifying. The typhoons bring heavy rainfall and a great deal of moisture, making it a critical time for tea enthusiasts. Slight carelessness can result in moldy tea leaves…
So, what should you pay attention to when storing tea during typhoon weather?
Typhoon Tea Storage Tips
Watch Out for High Temperatures
In the scorching summer, while typhoons may arrive, many might mistakenly think that temperatures have dropped. However, even if there's an occasional decrease, high temperatures remain the norm, so tea lovers need to be extra cautious.
Various substances in tea decompose under high temperatures, reducing the aroma, taste, and quality of the tea. Storing tea at temperatures below 10°C effectively inhibits browning.
White Tea, in particular, is best stored at temperatures between 25°C and 30°C. In a cool and dry environment, the enzymes within the tea can maintain sufficient activity, continuously promoting favorable transformations of its internal substances.
Watch Out for Moisture
Typhoon weather brings torrential rain, which increases air humidity. Tea has a strong adsorption capacity and can easily absorb moisture and odors from the air. If the moisture content of the tea exceeds standards, excess moisture will evaporate during storage, leading to dampness and spoilage.
Generally, if the air humidity in the storage environment exceeds 70%, tea can develop mold spots due to moisture absorption, leading to souring and spoilage. If the tea feels slightly soft when squeezed, caution is needed.
Therefore, the place where tea is stored should be far from areas where moisture tends to accumulate, such as basements, and avoid being in direct contact with walls or floors. During this period, keep doors and windows closed. Do not place tea directly against walls or on the floor; follow the principle of keeping tea away from walls and floors. It is recommended to set up a tea storage shelf at least 10-20 centimeters away from the ground and walls to minimize exposure to moisture.
Watch Out for Oxidation
Typhoon weather causes extreme changes in the air. Components like chlorophyll, aldehydes, esters, and vitamin C in tea come into contact with oxygen in the air, causing green tea to turn yellow and black tea to turn brown.
Oxidation weakens the aroma and taste of tea and significantly reduces its nutritional value. Therefore, most types of tea should be stored in sealed containers.
Whether compressed cakes or loose leaf, it's best to use a three-layer Packaging method with tight seals to prevent the tea from absorbing moisture. The inner packaging should have two layers, using plastic film and aluminum foil Paper to wrap the tea, and then placing it in a Cardboard box. Seal the edges of the cardboard box tightly with tape.